Railroad-crossing signal



June 2, 1925 1,540,233

J. D. SWANCY. SR

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Dec. 27, 1924 pets 4.

Patented .lune` 2, 1925.

. UNITED STATES PAT-ENT, orties. f

JAMES DUNN SWANGY, SR., OF'AUGUSTA, lGEOBfGrIA.

nAnRoAn-onossrhie sientan. n

Application filed llecernber 27, `*SerialiN'o. 758,567.

monly known in the art as a railway .cross` ing signal, the saine being adapted to be operated by the wheels of a 'passing train, to operate `a signalling device, disposed adjacent the highway, at the point crossedby the tracks to notify occupants of the highway of pending danger. Y n n The .principal object 'is' to` generally improve upon devices ofthis class, by provid ing one which embodies novel train controlled means associated with the tracks at a desirable distance from the highway, and being operableupon a signalling device, includihg a 1visible semaphore structure, and an audible signalling device, in the form of a mechanically operated bell.

The foregoing structural details are associated in a novel structural arrangement, the advantages of which will be apparent from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragment of a railroad track,v showing the train control means and signalling device, adapted to be disposed adjacent the highway.

Figure 2 is a top plan viewlof Figure 1, with portions of the train control means shown in section, to disclose the structure more clearly.

Figure 3 is a detail View of the upper portion of the signalling device.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the train control means comprises an elongated rectangular casing or housing 1, positioned between the rails of the track. At the opposite ends of this Vhousing and located within the same are appropriate bearings 2,'in which a shaft 3 is Vjournaled for rotation. y The opposite ends of the shaft extend beyond the end walls of the casing and are equipped with pointed'tap- These tappets are disposed at the insha-Sisahflth'h mais aha the1pAiiajfe'ry upper that tha-ehr hahha; a `Sughi ahaha ahovejthe sur-race ci thejwali'hf the rails,

sovtliat theyfivill be acttiated the' lpel riphery of the train n wheels passing th'eiraf-v over. Twbtlld drectattentibii'to th'efflact tliat the intermediate portionbfthe rotary shaft is stiniewliat thickened asfat 5, nnected thereto l small coil springsjare opposite sides, This xarangauhht @hunterbalances the shaft,` aiidffacilitates n peatidii and I resetting. With "thijs arrangement', "it

will be 'seen that l have, provided aratlier sensitive structure *y jwill' n operate readilyv andV eiiclently, and "wherein tlie major 'parts 'are enclosed inthe protect them lfrom dust, dirt, .and theelements.y f r u I i. y l l as haar@ indie-ated, the `Sighauhrgl actie@ is disposed alongside ,one tracks mjah-eht 'ai the chess-ing hiairway, aslhrui:

cated in" Figure. u2. Altliiigh lthe signalling device might he hsstrhetedhuisnr/ish, it preferably comprises a vertical standard 7 securely anchored in the ground, and provided at its top with a Y-shaped head 8. Mounted on the arms of this head are duplicate semaphore arms 9. They are preferably mounted intermediate their ends and the inner opposed ends are connected with small links 10, which are in turn connected with a pull rod 11. The pull rod extends upwardly, and is connected at its top, through a short link l2, to acrank arm 13 extending outwardly from a rotary shaft 14. This shaft is journaled in bearings at the upper ends of the arms of a U-shaped frame 15, alsoV carried by the standard. A bell 16 is hung from the central portion of the shaft vand is sounded simultaneously with the operation of the semaphore arm.

In ord'er that the bell may swing freely, the v l upper portions of the arms ofthe U-shaped rails, as shown-better in Figure 2, and is.

trained around a pulley 18, extending at right angles therefrom at 19, passing over pulleys 20 at the base of the standard, andl then upwardly, as at 21, the same being connected at its upper end to the aforesaid pull rod ll. VAssuming now that the train, travelling in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1,-passes over the tappet 4, the same will be depressed by the peripheral portions ofthe wheels and the shafts 3v will be rocked against the spring tension. A pull will thus be exerted upon the cable, and inasmuch as the latter is connected to the semaphore arms and bell, through the medium of `the mechanism and linkage described, it is obvious that the semaphore arms 9 will be raisedto a horizontal display position7 while at the same time the mechanically operated bell will be sounded. A dual signal will thus be given to warn the occupants of the highway of an approaching train. Although I have not shown it, it is within my idea toequip the semaphore arm signalling light to render the device more useful at night.

It is thought that the foregoing description, taken in connection with the'drawings,

'will enable persons to obtain a clear understanding'of the same. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

(Although I have shown and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that minor ychanges coming within the field of invention claimed maybe resorted to, if desired.

inner endsof said links, a frame also supported on the upper end of said standard, a. shaft journaled for rotation in said frame;

a mechanically operated bell carried by said shaft, a crank arm on the shaft, said pull rod being connected with saidv crank arm, anda train controlled cable for operating said arms vand bell;

2. In a structurer of the class described,

train controlled means'comprising a casing adapted for transverse disposition between the rails of the track, a shaft journaled for rotation in said casing, the -outer ends of theshafts extending beyond the outer'V ends of the casing, tappets ycarried by said extended ends adapted to be operated by the peripheral portions of the train wheels, the intermediate portionk ofl said track being counte'rbalanced, and said counterbalancing means comprising springsv for returning the shaft to a normal set position.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

JAMES DUNN` sWANCY, sR. 

